Athletic directors: What happened at Dr. Phillips could happen anywhere

Dr. Phillips' football team will forfeit all 14 victories this past season because a player lived outside its attendance zone.

July 9, 2011|By Joe Williams, Orlando Sentinel

An ineligible player, living outside Dr. Phillips' attendance zone, cost the Panthers' football team severely this week.

The news that DP was forfeiting all 14 of its victories from last season, which ended with an appearance in the Class 6A state championship game, surprised some Central Florida high school athletic directors. They said it could have happened anywhere, though.

"We don't have the personnel and time to investigate everyone's living space," said John Bangley, the former athletic director at Celebration. "Basically, we go by what they [parents and students] tell us. We assume they are telling us the truth. We don't have the manpower to go out and check behind each student."

Said Eustis AD Jack Cole: "We are not private detectives. We just have to take their word for where they live."

Dr. Phillips athletic director John Magrino told the Sentinel this week that the school self-reported the violation to the Florida High School Athletic Association. An Orange County Public Schools investigation confirmed the student lived outside the attendance zone.

"We have to put trust in that parents give us accurate information," Dr. Phillips Principal Eugene Trochinski said. "This kid lived in our feeder zone and had gone here for three years. There was no red flag that went up and said, 'Double-check on this one.'"

FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing said his organization usually hears about 10 similar cases every year, but "that's probably the tip of the iceberg."

"If the parent or student lied to gain eligibility, the fine against the school is only $100 per game," he said. "However, if we find the school didn't double-check, we fine them $2,500 per game.

"There is all kinds of ways for people to cheat and lie about their eligibility. That's why we want the school to be so vigilant."

When a student registers at a school, Port Orange Spruce Creek AD Mike Randow said at least two forms of identification with an address — preferably something such as a utility bill and a drivers license — is required. But he said, the school doesn't make certain those addresses are accurate.

"As far as physically verifying the address of every student who goes to school here, that is outside of our realm," Randow said. "We can only take for granted the information they are providing is accurate. To be fair, if we check on one, we probably would have to check on every athlete in our school, and I have anywhere from 800 to 1,000 athletes."

But checks are performed if a question about residency arises.

"If we have a question on it, we have to follow them and check up on it ourselves," Lake Howell AD Danya Harris said. "We can hand it over to the county. They check whether they are living there Sunday through Thursday, which are the days they look at for it to be a legitimate residence."

Timber Creek AD Jim Priest said his school follows up when an issue arises about a student-athlete living outside the school's zone.

"If we hear anything, we call the kid in and ask him where he lives, and we call the parents and ask them as well," Priest said. "We tell them they're jeopardizing not only their eligibility, but they could hurt the entire team.